Vehicle suspension

Abstract

The invention provides a new method of vehicular suspension, whereby the attributes of greater design freedom, reduction of frontal area, lower center of gravity, increased fuel efficiency, decreased polar movement, increased safety due to improved handling and a more linear relationship of springing force to wheel travel are accomplished with the outboard primary lever (outrigger bell crank) and the associated linkages.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A vehicle suspension system mounting a wheel, skid or track assembly to a vehicle chassis, comprising: 
       a) a control arm having opposing first and second ends, wherein said first end is pivotally mounted to the wheel, skid or track assembly and wherein said second end is pivotally mounted to the vehicle chassis;  
       b) a first bell crank having a fulcrum mounted to the vehicle chassis adjacent to the wheel, skid or track assembly, wherein said bell crank has a first lever arm and a second lever arm, and wherein said first lever arm and said second lever arm are oriented to define a substantially vertical plane;  
       c) a first link member having a first end pivotally connected to said control arm and a second end pivotally connected to said first lever arm of said first bell crank;  
       d) a second bell crank having a fulcrum mounted to the vehicle chassis wherein said second bell crank has a first lever arm and a second lever arm;  
       e) a second link member having a first end pivotally connected to said second lever arm of said first bell crank and a second end pivotally connected to said first lever arm of said second bell crank; and,  
       f) a springing assembly coupled between said second lever arm of said second bell crank and the vehicle chassis.  
     
     
       2. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said second link member is mounted substantially horizontally. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 2  wherein said first lever arm and said second lever arm of said second bell crank define a second plane and wherein said second bell crank is mounted so that said second plane intersects said vertical plane along a line defined through the length of said second link member. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 3  wherein the wheel, skid or track assembly defines an axle line and wherein the fulcrum of said first bell crank is mounted to the vehicle chassis below the axle line. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 2  wherein said first lever arm and said second lever arm of said first bell crank are substantially equal in length and wherein said first lever arm and said second lever arm of said second bell crank are substantially equal in length. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 2  wherein said springing assembly is mounted in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second link member. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 6  wherein said first link member is mounted in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second link member. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 2  further comprising an outrigger extending away from the vehicle chassis adjacent to the wheel, skid or track assembly and wherein said first bell crank is mounted to said outrigger. 
     
     
       9. A vehicle suspension system mounting a wheel, skid or track assembly to a chassis of a vehicle, comprising: 
       a) a control arm extending between the wheel, skid or track assembly and the chassis;  
       b) an outrigger extending from the vehicle chassis adjacent to the wheel, skid or track assembly;  
       c) a primary lever, having a pivot point mounted to said outrigger and below said control arm, and defining a first lever arm and a second lever arm;  
       d) a pull rod connected to said control arm and said first lever arm of said primary lever;  
       e) a secondary lever having a pivot point mounted to the vehicle chassis and defining a first lever arm and a second lever arm;  
       f) a push rod connected to said second lever arm of said primary lever and said first lever arm of said secondary lever; and,  
       g) a springing assembly mounted to the chassis and connected to said second lever arm of said secondary lever.  
     
     
       10. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 9  wherein said pull rod is oriented in a substantially vertical direction and wherein said push rod is oriented in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle suspension system of  claim 10  wherein said springing assembly is mounted in a direction substantially perpendicular to said push rod. 
     
     
       12. A method of suspending a wheel, skid or track assembly to a chassis of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
       a) providing a wheel, skid or track assembly for a vehicle chassis wherein a control arm extends from the vehicle chassis to the wheel, skid or track assembly;  
       b) extending a first rod from said control arm to one connection point of a primary bell crank substantially vertically mounted on the vehicle chassis;  
       c) extending a second rod in a substantially horizontal direction from a second connection point on said primary bell crank to a first connection point on a second bell crank mounted to the vehicle chassis; and,  
       d) disposing a springing assembly between a second connection point on said second bell crank and the vehicle chassis.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  wherein said first rod is mounted in a substantially vertical orientation. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of mounting said second bell crank to the vehicle chassis in a manner wherein said primary bell crank defines a substantially vertical plane and where said second bell crank defines a second plane and wherein said vertical plane and said second plane intersect at a longitudinal line defined through said second rod. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of mounting said primary bell crank to the vehicle chassis below said control arm. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15  wherein said wheel, skid or track assembly defines an axle line and wherein said primary bell crank is mounted to the vehicle chassis below the axle line. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of mounting said springing assembly in a line substantially perpendicular to said second rod.